- India says one of its nationals was killed after US-owned crude oil was attacked near Basra

ISTANBUL / NEW DELHI

Iraq on Thursday condemned the targeting of two foreign oil tankers, including a US-owned one, in its territorial waters and said it reserves the right to take “legal action” over the incident.

Iraqi media reported Wednesday evening that two foreign oil tankers were attacked in waters near the port of Basra in southern Iraq, causing fires on both vessels.

Saad Maan, head of Iraq’s Security Media Cell, told Al Ekhbariya Al Iraqiya channel that the two tankers had been targeted in a “cowardly act of sabotage” inside Iraqi territorial waters.

He said six rescue vessels were dispatched to evacuate the crews. A total of 38 people were rescued, while one crew member died.

Maan described the attack as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and said, “Iraq reserves its right to take legal measures,” without providing further details.

He added that the Iraqi government is working to ensure the country does not become a party to the war between the US and Israel on one side and Iran on the other.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

In recent days, attacks on oil tankers and cargo vessels in regional maritime routes have sharply increased amid the ongoing military escalation involving Iran since Feb. 28.

Indian killed aboard US-owned tanker near Basra

India on Thursday said one of its citizens was killed after a US-owned crude oil tanker, Safesea Vishnu, sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, was attacked near Basra, Iraq on Wednesday.

“The remaining 15 Indian crew have since been evacuated to a safe place,” the Indian Embassy in Baghdad wrote on the US social media company X.

It said the embassy “is in regular contact with Iraqi authorities and rescued Indian sailors and is offering all possible assistance.”

On Wednesday, during a news conference in New Delhi, Indian officials said that two Indian nationals lost their lives and one remains missing in incidents involving merchant ships that came under attack.

According to an Anadolu tally, at least 16 people from Asian nations have been either killed or remain missing since the latest conflict broke out in the Middle East.

The victims include four from Bangladesh; three each from Pakistan and India; one each from China, Nepal, and the Philippines; and three Indonesians who remain missing.